WWE and Marvel Collide: ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Takes Over Worlds Collide in a Surprise Disney World Crossover

Wrestling and superhero movies have always borrowed from each other, with oversized heroes, brutal rivalries and plenty of spectacle. Now the two worlds are officially colliding. WWE and Marvel have joined forces for an ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ tie-in that turns a wrestling card into a movie promotion.

The movie in question is the next giant Marvel crossover, set to open in U.S. theaters on December 18. It follows heroes from three universes on what Marvel describes as a deadly collision course, with Robert Downey Jr. playing Victor von Doom. Disney clearly wants to build a lot of noise ahead of that release.

On November 3, WWE and The Walt Disney Company announced a special two-day takeover of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida, on December 14-15. The centerpiece is an ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘-themed edition of Worlds Collide on Tuesday, December 15, featuring the biggest Superstars from WWE, NXT and AAA. It follows the first-ever John Cena Classic the night before.

WWE and Marvel have just announced a new collab for ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’. A special event will be held on December 15. (via: https://t.co/k9NVQiMB0J) https://t.co/oNpZ1DaaTv

— Avengers Updates (@AvengersUpdated) November 3, 2026

The John Cena Classic comes first, on Monday, December 14. Cena announced the event at WWE Backlash in May, and details were revealed on Monday Night Raw in front of a sold-out crowd at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Coverage describes a special championship belt, with some reports saying it will be decided by a fan vote through Club WWE.

Reports differ slightly on the format. One account says wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown and NXT will compete for the belt, while another describes main-roster stars facing NXT prospects. The one point of agreement is that the Classic is positioned as a standalone special event.

Then comes the Marvel part. The December 15 Worlds Collide will carry ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ branding, with WWE, NXT and AAA talent on the card. Organizers have not said where the show will stream, and no matches have been announced yet.

The partnership goes beyond the ring. WWE and Fanatics will stage WWE World, a two-day immersive fan event at the complex, with exclusive merchandise plus photo and autograph opportunities with Superstars. Two-day combo tickets will go on sale, with a presale on November 12 and the general on-sale on November 13.

Merchandise is a big piece of the plan. WWE will produce and sell ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ co-branded products, including title belts, at WWE World, on WWEShop.com and at select Disney retail stores. That extends the two companies’ relationship into retail and live experiences.

It builds on a connection that began in 2025, when the ESPN app became the exclusive domestic home of WWE’s premium live events for ESPN Unlimited subscribers. The Wide World of Sports complex has a long event history of its own, including the 2020 NBA bubble season and the Invictus Games.

He used to be different. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters everywhere December 18. Get your tickets now: https://t.co/J5PUbxvAkc https://t.co/OUutSMZneq

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 15, 2026

The names behind the announcement make it more interesting. Collider notes that John Cena, Dwayne Johnson and Dave Bautista have all made the leap from wrestling to Hollywood, but this time Hollywood is coming to WWE. That gives the event a nice circular feel for longtime wrestling fans.

Worlds Collide itself has an evolving history. The name returned in June 2025 for WWE’s first crossover event with AAA, the Mexican promotion WWE acquired that year. Putting NXT and AAA talent under a Marvel banner is a sign that the company wants to show off its deepest roster.

Cena’s role is also notable. He wrestled his retirement match in December 2025, yet he remains closely tied to WWE through the Classic, which he has described as something that could be considered non-canon to storylines. The December date is a reminder that his influence reaches beyond the ring.

For Disney, the timing is smart. The event lands just three days before the movie opens, giving Marvel a live, high-energy promotional moment during the busiest week of its marketing push. A wrestling audience is also a natural fit for a film built on large-scale showdowns.

For WWE, the partnership brings access to Disney’s marketing reach and the biggest film release of the holiday window. It also keeps the company in front of casual viewers who might not follow week-to-week programming. Few promotions can say they have a Marvel-branded show on the calendar.

Open questions remain, including who will headline the card, whether any Marvel talent will appear and how the ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ theming will show up in matches or presentation. Those details should surface as the date approaches and ticket sales begin.

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